Means for visually segregating columned entries



Aug. 17, 1937. P. A. BRAYTON 2,090,102

- MEANS FOR VISUALLY SEGREGATING COLUMNED ENTRIES Filed Aug. 26, 1936 Pearl ,4. flrgioa,

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 "UNITED" "STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR VISUALLY SEGREGATING COLUMNED ENTRIES Pearl A. Brayton, Washington, D. 0. Application August 26, 1936, Serial No. 98,053 8 Claims (01. 120-8) My invention relates to means for visually segregating columned entries on accounting sheets, ledger or like book pages, and records of any nature involving columned entries in figures or otherwise.

An object of my invention is to facilitate extracting columned entries from accounting sheets and the like, particularly where the columns are numerous, and incases where other entered data not wanted in the particular extraction is present.

It is obvious that avoidance of error is enhanced by exposing only that part of the entries wanted from accounting sheets and the like while hiding those columns having entries not wanted,

which is what I do with my system.

I accomplish the results by providing means for exposing to view only those columns having entries wanted, and hiding those not wanted in the particular extraction undertaken.

My invention is fully described in the following description making reference to the various figures of the accompanying drawing, and no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims are intended by reasons of the particular arrangements illustrated and described, they having been chosen merely for explanatory purposes.

'Ihe figures are the following, like reference numerals in the difierent figures referring to like parts.

Fig. 1 illustrates in plan view one arrangement used by me.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the arrangement in Fig. l on line ZZ.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate differently proportioned spacing strips 3 useable as illustrated in the arrangement in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates one way of modifying the arrangement of Fig. 1 while securing the same results.

Referring to the figures, I is an elongated flat strip of any suitable material having sufilcient thickness to provide enough strength and rigidity for its purpose, though preferably of material having sufficient flexibility to permit of circular bending that may be needed in some cases.

The material of strip I may be wood, or any of the synthetic celluloidal compounds usual to ruler and like constructions.

The end of the elongated strip I may have secured to its under side the illustrated cross strip 2 either perpendicularly or angularly to the longitudinal axis of strip I as may be desired under certain circumstances, this to determine the direction of strip I on aboard if used in connection with the accounting or other sheets as is usual to the well-known draftsmans T-square.

Spacing strips 3, of various widths as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are provided. They are ar- 5 ranged to be slidably associated with strip I in a longitudinal direction, thereby providing for creating an'arrangement having spaces of any desired widths in any locations longitudinally of strip I, thus exposing to view only those 001- 10 umned entries wanted. The spacing strips 3 are preferably nontransparent so as to hide unwanted entries on the line of the exposed wanted entries. I

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, one way of con- 15 structing and arranging the sliding spacing strips 3 and the strip I to cooperatively function to permit of spacing strips 3 as desired, and retaining them in place after location, is illustrated. As shown, the spacing strips 3 extend consider- 20 ably beyond the edge of strip I on one side thereof, thereby providing a covering hiding unwanted entries, and leaving spaces exposing the wanted entries.

In the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 1 and 25 2 the spacing strips extend under strip I to the edge of the other side. At this other side of strip I there is a raised portion I, preferably rounded. Spacing strips 3 have turned back edges 3' shaped to fit, preferably snugly, the raised portion I of 30 strip I. This provides for sliding spacing strips 3 one-by-one longitudinally on the raised portion on strip I, spacing them as needed, and thereafter remaining in place during use by reason of the cooperative action between the raised 5 portion I of strip I and the bent back portion 3 of the spacing strips 3.

Fig. 6 illustrates another way of arranging the strip and the spacing strips. In this arrangement the elongated strip 4 has a raised portion 40 4' at some part of its width, though preferably removed from its edges. The raised portion 4' of strip 4 is preferably cross sectionally angled to make its top wider than its bottom as illustrated. Spacing strip 5 has a raised indentation 5 shaped 45 to fit the raised portion 4 on strip 4, Spacing strip 5 is preferably shaped at point 6 to have the bottom side of its extension portion on the level of the underside of strip 4, and thereby rest on the surface of the sheet of entries. 50

While I intend no limitations thereby, I term my device a block-out ruler. I have found this form of ruler of particular value in connection with reproducing in part from recordings made on comptometers and like machines, and partic 55 larly of value in connection with with copying from the elaborate accounting sheets used in government activities and in large businesses.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a system for visually segregating columned entries, an elongated strip having crosswise, slidably mounted strips therewith material 1y extending with selected widths beyond one edge of said elongated strip.

2. In a system for visually segregating columned entries, the combination of an elongated strip materially, strips mounted crosswise said elongated strip extending with chosen width beyond one edge thereof, and means permitting longitudinal slidable movement only of said crosswise strips with respect to said elongated strip.

3. In a system for visually segregating columned entries, an elongated strip having a strip fixedly secured cross-wise thereto under one end thereof, strips of chosen widths mounted crosswise said elongated strip extending beyond one edge thereof and longitudinally slidable with respect thereto.

4. In a system for visually segregating columned entries, the combination of an elongated strip having a strip fixedly cross-wise attached thereto under one end thereof, strips of chosen widths arranged cross-wise said elongated strip extending beyond one edge thereof, and means permitting longitudinal movement only of said latter cross-wise strips with respect to said elongated strip.

5. In a system for visually segregating c01- umned entries, the combination of an elongated strips having bends therein encompassing the raised portionof said elongated strip.

7. Ina system for visually segregating columned entries, the combination of an elongated strip having a raised portion thereon extending longitudinally thereof, and cross-wise strips of chosen widths extending materially beyond one edge of said elongated strip, said latter strips having a configuration included in their structure snugly fitting the configuration of said raised portion of said elongated strip.

8. In a system for visually segregating columned entries, the combination of an elongated strip having a raised portion thereon longitudinally thereof, and cross-wise strips of chosen widths extending materially beyond one edge of said elongated strip each having a configuration thereinso fitting the configuration of said raised portion of said elongated strip as to permit of longitudinal movement only with respect thereto.

PEARL A. BRAY'ION.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. I Patent No. 2,090,102 o August l7, 195T.

PEARL A BRAYTON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 10, claim 6, after the'word "strips" insert of chosen widths;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of February, A, D. 1958.,

, Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

